Ila, Ilā, Iḷa, Iḷā: 28 definitions
Introduction:
Ila means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Iḷa and Iḷā can be transliterated into English as Ila or Ilia, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarIla (इल).—tad. affix applied to the words काश, अश्वत्थ, पलाश (kāśa, aśvattha, palāśa) and others in the four senses prescribed in P.IV. 2.67-70; e.g. काशिलः, अश्वत्थिलः, पलाशिलः (kāśilaḥ, aśvatthilaḥ, palāśilaḥ) cf.P.IV.2.80.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana1) Ilā (इला)—One of the eleven wives of Rudra, called a Rudrāṇī.
2) Ilā (इला):—First born (daughter) of Śrāddhadeva (current Manu) and Śraddhā. She was transformed into a male called Sudyumna. Sudyumna had three sons (Utkala, Gaya and Vimala) who became the kings of the Dakṣiṇā-patha. His son Purūravā received his entire kingdom when Sudyumna was sufficiently old.
3) Through the womb of Ilā, Budha (son of Soma and Tārā) begat Purūravā (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.14.15-16)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Ila (इल).—The name taken by Sudyumna when, after becoming woman, he became man again (See under ILĀ I).
2) Ilā (इला).—Daughter of Vaivasvata Manu. Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu in this order:—Brahmā—Marīci—Kaśyapa—Vaivasvata Manu—Ilā. Vaivasvata Manu was the son of Kaśyapa by his wife Aditi, and Ilā the daughter of Vaivasvata Manu by his wife, Śraddhā. Ikṣvāku, the ancestral father of the solar dynasty of Kings was brother of Ilā.
3) Ilā (इला).—A river. At the birth of Subrahmaṇya this river paid homage to him with fruits and roots. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 86, Verse 24). Dharmaputra along with the brahmins bathed in this river. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 156, Verse 8).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Ila (इल).—The eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu; born of putreṣṭi; anointed by Manu going to Mahendra hill for tapas; set out for digvijaya, when he reached Śaravaṇa gardens where Umā was sporting with śiva. There was a curse by which a male who entered the garden was turned into a female. So Ila became ilā. Bewildered Ilā was wandering and was met by Budha, Soma's son. She agreed to be his partner and followed him. Ikṣvāku and his brothers were concerned at their missing Ila and were told by Vasiṣṭha of his whereabouts. On Vasiṣṭha's advice, Ikṣvāku performed an aśvamedha, as the result of which Ila would be a Kimpuruṣa for a month and Ilā for the next alternately. As Ilā, she gave birth to Purūravas, the first of the lunar race. In a way Ila was responsible for the two dynasties—solar and lunar.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 11. 40-66; 12. 1-14.
2a) Ilā (इला).—Mother Earth; worshipped for gain of bodily strength.1 Waited on Hari;2 saved by Hari in the form of Matsya.3
2b) One of the wives of Rudra.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 12. 13.
2c) The daughter of Vāyu and one of the queens of Dhruva; her son was Utkala.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 10. 2.
2d) One of Kaśyapa's wives.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 25, 28; Vāyu-purāṇa 1. 141.
2e) The daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, born of sacrificial ritual in his aśvamedha. Seeing her father displeased at her birth, Vasiṣṭha converted her to a male by name Sudyumna. See iḍā; again by Śiva's curse he became a woman on whom Budha begot Purūravas; after that she became again Sudyumna.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 1. 16, 22; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 60. 6; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 1. 9-13; 6. 34.
2f) The wife of Budha and mother of Purūravas. (See ila).*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 14. 15; Matsya-purāṇa 24. 9-10.
2g) One of Vasudeva's wives. Mother of Uruvalka and other sons.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 45 & 49.
2h) (Iḍā): sprang out of a sacrifice of Vaivasvata Manu in honour of Mitra and Varuṇa; the latter two adopted her as their daughter.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 85. 7.
2i) The wife of Tapas in the viśvaśṛj sacrifice.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 2. 6.
Ilā (इला) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.90.7) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Ilā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyIlā (इला) refers to one of the three daughters of Manu Vaivasvata: the son of Saṃjñā and Bhāskara (sun-god), according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] It is stated that Aditi got from Kaśyapa, Bhāskara, the Sun-god. The Sun-god had four wives [viz., Saṃjñā]. Saṃjñā gave birth to Manu from the sun-god in whose race were born the kings. [...] The daughters were Ilā, Jyeṣṭhā and Variṣṭhā.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Raj NighantuIlā (इला) refers to “earth” and is mentioned in a list of 53 synonyms for dharaṇi (“earth”), according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil [viz., Ilā], mountains, jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsIlā (इला) represents the number 1 (one) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 1—ilā] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Apam Napat: Indian MythologyAccording to the B.P., Ila is the daughter of Manu, born to him when he prayed to the Gods Mitra and Varuna. It says that she was later turned into a man named Sudyumna.
However, according to the Mahabharata, Sudyumna was a king who turned into a woman named Ila temporarily, by bathing in a forbidden pool. He married Budha and begat Puroorava. After a year, the curse was lifted and he returned to his kingdom with his son.
Source: JatLand: South AsiaBhagavata Purana (Skandha IX Chapter-1) tells us about Suryavamsha (or Solar-race) as under:
“Sraddhadeva Manu had a daughter named Ila. He took Vasistha to task for having had a daughter. Vasistha thought the priest had done something wrong. He prayed to Bhagavan for the change of Ila's sex. So Ila became a male named Sudyumna and in company with others went on horse back to the chase. He entered a forest called Sukumara, below the Meru, which is the play ground of Siva and his consort. He and his companions were all transformed into females, for such is the mandate of Siva for those that enter the forest. In this changed condition, Sudyumna with his female companions went to Budha. Budha took a fancy for Sudyamna and had by her one son Pururavas.”
Vasistha took pity on Sudyumna again and prayed to Siva to change his sex. By the favour of Siva, Sudyumna became a male for one month and a female for another month. He had three sons : Utkala, Gaya and Vimala.
Source: Oxford Reference: HinduismSaid to be the son (Iḷa) and/or daughter (Iḷā) of Manu Vaivasvata, he/she is subject to various changes of sex in a number of Purāṇic stories. As Iḷā, she gave birth to a son, Purūravas, and so founded the Lunar dynasty.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: HereNow4U: Lord Śrī Ariṣṭanemi (I)Ilā (इला).—The son of Mādhava Indragiri (king from the Harivaṃśa lineage) was Dakṣa Prajāpati, whose queen was named Ilā and son was named Ilā. For some reason Ilā was annoyed with her husband Dakṣa prajāpati and taking her son Ilā with her, went to Tāmralipti where she established a city called Ilāvarddhana and the son built a city named Māheśvarī. After Ilā, his son Pulina ascended the throne.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryIlā.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘one’. Note: ilā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Ila in Ecuador is the name of a plant defined with Ficus insipida in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Pharmacosycea angustifolia Liebm. (among others).
2) Ila in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso is also identified with Mitragyna inermis It has the synonym Cephalanthus africanus Rchb. ex DC. (etc.).
3) Ila in Nigeria is also identified with Abelmoschus esculentus It has the synonym Hibiscus longifolius Roxb., nom. illeg. (etc.).
4) Ila is also identified with Blighia sapida.
5) Ila is also identified with Hibiscus esculentus It has the synonym Hibiscus longifolius Willd. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Genera Plantarum (1789)
· Species Plantarum, ed. 4 (1800)
· Systematic Botany Monographs (1988)
· Annales Museum Botanicum Lugduno-Batavi (1867)
· Contributions from the United States National Herbarium (1917)
· Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (1826)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Ila, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, side effects, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryiḷā (इळा).—m A curved instrument for cutting grass or shrubs. iḷā āṇi bhōpaḷā (From the difficulty, in consequence of the excessive curvature of the iḷā, of separating by it the pompion from its stalk.) A phrase used of man and wife, master and servant &c. of dispositions uncongenial and incompatible. In this sense iḷyāvāḷukāśīṃ gāṇṭha (paḍaṇēṃ-ghālaṇēṃ &c.) iḷā mōḍūna khiḷā karaṇēṃ To destroy some large and valuable article in order to make something petty or insignificant. iḷyāitakā vāṅkaḍā Crooked as an iḷā lit fig.
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īḷa (ईळ).—m f (Vulgar for vēḷa) Time; a time or a while. Ex. ēvaḍhā īḷa basalōṃ. īḷabhara The whole day &c. See vēḷabhara.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishiḷā (इळा).—m A curved instrument for cutting grass. iḷā mōḍūna khiḷā karaṇēṃ Destroy some large and valuable article in order to make something petty or insigni- ficant.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryIlā (इला).—[il-ac, vā lasya ḍatvam]
1) The earth; प्रवुध्यते नूनमिडातलस्थः (pravudhyate nūnamiḍātalasthaḥ) Mb.
2) Speech.
3) An offering, libation (coming between prayāja and anuyāja); अग्निश्चते योनिरिडा च देहः (agniścate yoniriḍā ca dehaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.114.28.
4) Refreshing draught.
5) (Hence) Food.
6) (Fig.) Stream or flow of praise or worship personified as the goddess of sacred speech; इडोपहूताः क्रोशन्ति कुञ्जरास्त्वङ्कुशेरिताः (iḍopahūtāḥ krośanti kuñjarāstvaṅkuśeritāḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.98.26.
7) Libation and offering of milk.
8) A cow. इडेरन्ते (iḍerante) &c. ŚB. on MS. 1.3.49.
9) Name of a goddess, daughter of Manu. (She is the wife of Budha and mother of Purūravas; she is also called maitrāvaruṇī as the daughter of mitra and varuṇa).
1) Name of Durgā
11) Heaven.
12) A tubular vessel (nāḍībheda), (being in the right side of the body).
See also (synonyms): iḍā.
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Ila (इल).—a. [il-ka] Sleepy.
-lā 1 The earth; पुष्टिकाम इलां यजेत् (puṣṭikāma ilāṃ yajet) Bhāgavata 2.3.5.
2) A cow; Bhāgavata 3.18.19.
3) Speech; Bhāgavata 1.13.64. &c. see इडा (iḍā).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryIlā (इला).—f.
(-lā) 1. The wife of Budd'Ha, and daughter of Ikshwaku. 2. The earth. 3. A cow. 4. Speech. E. il to send, ka and ṭāp affixes; also iḍā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryIlā (इला).—iḷā, see idā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryIlā (इला).—[feminine] = iḍ + speech, earth, cow; [Name] of a goddess (personif. of worship and sacrifice), a daughter of Manu or Dakṣa, [Epithet] of Durgā.
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Ilā (इला).—[feminine] = iḍ + speech, earth, cow; [Name] of a goddess (personif. of worship and sacrifice), a daughter of Manu or Dakṣa, [Epithet] of Durgā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ilā (इला):—[from iḍ] f. iḍā or (in Ṛg-veda) iLā, (not to be confounded with the inst. case of iḍ above), refreshing draught, refreshment, animation, recreation, comfort, vital spirit, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa]
2) Ila (इल):—ilā See iḍa, iḍā, p. 164, col. 2, and ilā below.
3) Ilā (इला):—f. (closely connected with iḍā and irā, qq.v.) flow
4) speech
5) the earth, etc.
6) See iḍā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ilā (इला):—(lā) f. The wife of Buddha; earth; cow; speech.
2) (lā) 1. f. Idem.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Ila (इल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Hala, Ilā.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryIlā (इला):—(nf) see [iṃgalā/iḍā].
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryIlā (इला) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Ilā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusĪḷa (ಈಳ):—[noun] 'a country coextensive with an island off the south eastern tip of India, a former British colony that became independent and member of the Commonwealth (1948) and republic since 1972: 24,959 sq. mi. (64,643 sq. km); Sri Lanka.'
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+245): Ila funfun, Ila iroko, Ila kalli, Ila-karra, Ila-putchi, Ila-veliman, Ila-vincikko, Ilaachi, Ilaaru, Ilabatheka, Ilabele, Ilabhrittu, Ilac, Ilaca, Ilacakra, Ilacamattakam, Ilacatcacam, Ilaci, Ilaci Kelem, Ilacidana.
Ends with (+2268): Aadalodakathila, Ababila, Abhila, Abhinila, Abhisamacarika Sila, Abhisamacarikasila, Abhivadanashila, Abhivriddhishila, Abila, Acalakila, Acarashila, Acchila, Acculayila, Achalakila, Achchhila, Acila, Adabila, Adakedalila, Adaketalila, Adayila.
Full-text (+113): Aila, Ida, Ilagola, Ilatala, Ilamda, Vili, Ilavrita, Vilakhila, Avela, Kardameya, Ghritapadi, Uruvalka, Madhuvila, Iladadha, Il, Iḻam, Idas, Pisila, Sarvela, Iladurga.
Relevant text
Search found 46 books and stories containing Ila, Ilā, Iḷa, Iḷā, Īḷa, Īla; (plurals include: Ilas, Ilās, Iḷas, Iḷās, Īḷas, Īlas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
The Gautami Mahatmya (by G. P. Bhatt)
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Canto I - Dynasties of the kings < [Book IV]
Chapter IV - Dynasty of the Moon, An account of Tara, origin of three Fires < [Book IV]
Chapter VIII - Origin of Rudra: his becoming eight Rudras < [Book I]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 2.1c - The Lunar Dynasty < [Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa]
Part 4 - Contents of the Matsyapurāṇa (summary) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Part 4 - Imagery in the Matsyapurāṇa < [Chapter 2 - Literary aspect of the Matsyapurāṇa]
Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Mattottam (Rajarajapuram) < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Appointment of Temple Servants and Administrative Arrangements < [Tanjavur/Thanjavur (Rajarajesvaram temple)]
Introduction < [Chapter I - Rajaraja I (a.d. 985 to 1014)]
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